Studio-easel



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' ing of the easel when in use.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANSON K. CROSS, OF BOSTON, ,MASSACHUSETTS STUDIO-EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,116. dated November29, 1887.

Application tiled February 25, 1887. Serial No. 228,812. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANsoN K. CRoss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Studio-Easels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in studio-easels in which the partsare intended to close one upon another; and the objects of myimprovements are, iirst, to insure astrong and simple construction;second,to'afford facilities for the easy adjustment of all the parts;third, to provide for inclining forward and supporting-pictures from thesmallest to a very large size; fourth, to arrange for the easy mov- Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective of the easel, showing theswinging shelf behind, the locker, and central sliding bar; Fig. 2, aview of the back of the easel, showing the back leg and shelf closed;Fig. 3, a top view, and Fig. 4 a side view, of the same; Fig. 5, a backview of the central part of the front of locker and lower end of centralsliding bar; Fig. 6, a top View of thesame;Fig. 7,ahorizontalsection'through end of front oflocker, showing the cam andits seat; Fig. 8, an end view of the same; Fig. 9, a view of the back oflocker-front, showing spring and cam-seat; Fig. 10, a perspective of thecomplete improved easel; Fig. 11, a side View of frame of easel, showingback leg and folding base closed; Fig. 12, a section through backleg andthe sliding weight; Fig. 13, a` View of the front of end of locker; Fig.14, an end vview of same with slide and swinging front of locker closed;Fig. 15, a horizontal section through central part of front of lockerand central sliding bar; Fig. 16, a front view of same; Fig. 17, an endview of same, the front and bottom of locker being in section; Fig. 18,a vertical section through the sliding end of incline device; Fig. 19, atop view of same; Fig. 20, a vertical section through center of clampingend of incline device; Fig. 2l, a View of back of same. v

Similar letters refer to similar. parts throughout the several views. f

The uprights AA and the horizontals B B B2 form the` frame of the easel.The ends of the horizontals B B are notched to give a shoulder on theinside of uprights A A and are screwed to the back edges of uprights AA. Grooves a a run the entire length on the inside faces of uprights AA. The lower horizontal, B2, is tenoned into these grooves and securedby screws from the outside of uprights A A. The horizontals B and B havevertical slots b b in the middle of the front faces. These slots arepartly covered bystrips b b and bIl b2.

The head-piece O of the back leg is hinged to the back of the upperhorizontal, B, whose upper edge is provided with the customary stop, b3.The leg is completed by splitting for about half its length a taperingstrip, C', separating the two parts, and tenoning them into thehead-piece C. A rivet, c, with washers upon each edge of O', preventsthe leg from splitting beyond the cut. This construction `givesstrength, and the wood taking its natural curve a neat appearanceresults.

In Fig. l the easel is shown without theimproved base and casters, theback leg and uprights A A having at their ends pieces of soft rubber toprevent slipping.

The ledge for the support of the picture is forniedinto alocker thehinged front of which, D3, dropping forms a shelf. Piece D forms thebasis of the locker. Pieces E E, having the slides E E', are fastened tothe back of piece D. These pieces areof such a size that when the slidesE E are placed in the grooves a a there shall be between uprights A Aand piece D a space for the spring F, cam G, seat G', and backing G2.

The cam G is the same as in the sketchingeasel whose application, No.215,237, iledOcter 4, 1886, has been allowed. Its weight brings it tothe bottom of its seat G', and its handle hanging down keeps the longaxis of the cam parallel to upright A, in' which positionthe cam doesnot ll the space between its seat and upright A, and the locker is freeto slide upon uprights A A.

The cam -seat G is an adaptation of the wedge-shaped slot used in thesketching-easel to the heavier construction of the studio. It is held bythe screws g andff.

In place of the simple strap or retainingband used in thesketching-easelasteel spring, F, is used. rlhis fulflls'the purposes ofsaid band-namely, serves as a gib for the cam and IOO prevents it fromfalling out when the locker is removed from upright A A, and also, byits pressure upon upright A, prevents the locker dropping suddenly uponhorizontal B2. The spring F is held in place upon its seats at each endof can1-seat G by the screws f f', which pass through the slots ff ineach end of the spring. Its motion lengthwise is prevented by the stopsg g' at the ends of the seat G', and by means of the screwsff it maybeadjusted to give any desired pressure.

The cam-seat G is adjusted by means of the wedge-shaped piece G2,inserted between camseat G and piece D, so that when the cam is at thebottom of its seat and is turned at right angles to upright A it bindsand holds the locker with sufficient firmness for ordinary work. Byraising the cani in its tapering seat before turning sufficient pressuremay be obtained to support the heaviest picture. The cam is filed, sothat fiat surfaces may come against the seat and spring and keep it inposition.

The plate G3 is screwed to the ends of piece D, giving finish andpreventing lengthwise motion ofthe locker.

The space between piece D and upright A is filled by a strip, D', whichis secured with its upper surface flush with that of piece D. On theback of strip D strip D2 is fastened. This projects above strip D andprevents the picture slipping back off the ledge. The strip D* preventsit slipping forward.

The bottom of the locker El is fastened to the ends of pieces E E. Theback E3 is secured to the back edges of pieces E E El and bar H. Thefront DG is hinged to pieces E E, is held against piece D by aspring-catch, c', and open by the button e, which is fastened to thebottom of piece El.

The central sliding bar, H, has its front edges in the same plane as thefront edges of uprights AA. On its back edge the strip H is secured.This slidesin the slots in horizontals B and B, being held by the piecesb b and b2 bl. In each side of bar H are the grooves h h..

In Fig. l the locker is shown secured to the bar H, thc constructionwhich has always been used in easels having vertical sliding bars. Figs.5 and 6 give the details of this construction, in which the spacebetween piece D and bar lH is filled by piece d and the parts secured byscrews.

In Fig. 10 is shown my improved construction, in which the locker isindependent ofthe bar and each is adjustable. The bar may thus besecured at the top and the locker at the bottoln of the easel, whichpermits the holding of a very large canvas. Vhen the canvas is small, itis convenient to have the bar and locker connected to move together. Theback and bottom of the locker are eut to allow the bar to slide throughit, so that when closed the bar may project but little above the top ofuprights A A, and by means of the yoke I, which projects into thegrooves h 7L in bar H, and has a threaded bolt projecting through pieceD, and

the thumb-screw I2 upon the same, the bar H may be clamped to thelocker. The yoke I is kept from turning by pieces D5D5, which areslotted to receive it, and are secured to piece D. The ends ofthe backof locker are held by the pieces D D5. A spring, i, keeps the yoke inposition to enter the grooves in bar H.

The lower ends of bar H and the slides E E are provided with rubbercushions to receive the blow of falling upon horizontal B2.

The locker is balanced upon the uprightsA A by means of a weight, C2, acord passing through the weight over pulleys secured to the under edgeof upper horizontal, B, and being attached at each side to the back ofpiece E. The weight slides upon the back leg, G', being -kept centralupon the same by a guide, c, which slides in a groove, c', cut in themiddle of the back face of the leg. The weight is kept in place upon theleg by a strap, C, which encircles the leg and projects beyond theweight to allow the weight to slide far enough upon the upper part ofthcleg to carry the locker to the bottom of the uprights A A.

The incline device consists of a slide, K, which is held upon bar H byprojecting into the grooves h h. This has a spring, k, to re tain,and athumb-screw, k', to secure, it wherever it may be placed upon bar II.The arms K K are pivotally secured to ears projecting from the slide bythe pin 7a3. A spiral spring, k, is placed upon the pin 7a, and has oneend attached to the pin h5, its pressure acting to close the armsagainst bar H. At their outer ends the arms K K are pivotally connectedto clamps L and L', which are suitable for a firm attachment to the edgeof a picture. These may be of metal; or clamp L may be of wood or rubberand clamp L of metal. In the form shown the shoulder in clamp L isintended to receive the edge of a canvas, the points Z3 Z3 coming infront near the edge, the clamp L being brought against the back of thepicture by means of the thumb-screw L3 and the bolt L2. The picture issecurely held between the two parts, the points of which are embedded inthe stretcher. To hold a frame the clamps would be opened wide toreceive the edge of the frame, the front of which rests upon the softrubber Z2, and is not scarred by the pressure of the clamp L upon theback of the frame. By changing the position of the slide K upon bar Hany inclination desired may be given to a picture, whether large orsmall, and, as the slide is always above the top of the picture,pressure upon it serves to brace it the more firmly.

Fig. 10 shows the improved base of the easel with casters. Studio-caselshave always been placed upon casters; but theyhave been frameeasels, inwhich the uprights were rigidly attached to the base.

At the back lower edge of horizontal Blz a frame, M, similar to the backleg, is hinged, so as to close within the back leg or drop to the At theend of frame M a caster is f1tfloor.

IOO

IIO

ted, which, when the easel is closed, occupies the space between the twoparts of back leg, C', or two casters may be fitted in a piece at rightangles to end of frame M. On the front of horizontal vBz theextension-base B3 is secured. This has a caster at each end, and to itsback edge and the sides of uprights A A braces A A are fastened. Theback leg has a pin, e, at its extremity, which ts in holes m m m mm,bored in frame M. Theframe of the easel may thus be held at any angle upto vertical, and the whole easel may be closed for storage, notoccupying any more space than the form shown in Fig. l.

In Fig.. l is shown a hinged shelf, O, which is held horizontal for thesupport of materials by chains or cords :v x, the hook y being used tohold the shelf closed.

Having described my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In an easel, the combination, with the frame of easel, ot' a slidinglocker or shelf adjusted to said frame, substantially as described,andan oval pin for retaining the same wherever desired. g, r l

2. In an easel, the combination, with an oval pin serving to secure thesliding parts, of an inclined or wedge-shaped seat for said pin by meansof which the pin by being moved longitudinally upon said seat may bemade to give any desired pressure to prevent motion of theslidingvparts, and a spring serving as a gib for said pin,'and beingadjustable to p'roduce any pressure between said sliding parts, allconstructed and operating substantially 'as described.

3. Inan easel, the horizontals B B, having slots and coverin0'- ieces bb and b2 b2 in combination with the vertical bar H, which is f1tted toslide in the slots and is held at any height by a thumb-screw on thehorizontal B.

4. In an easel, the combination, with an adjustable ledge, of adetachable extensioubar ladjustable at will to the ledge or to the upperpart of the easel by means of suitable setscrews, substantially as andfor the purpose specified. l

5. In an easel, the combination, with the frame, of an adjustable lockeror ledge bal anced upon said frame by a weight encircling the back legof easel and suspended by a cord passing over pulleys at the top ofeasel and attached to locker, substantially as described.

6. In an easel, an incline device consisting of a slide having a springfor retaining and a thumb-screw ior securing same upon upright of easel,an arm pivotally connected to said slide, a spring for closing said armagainst easel and pivotally connected to outer end of said arm, andadapted by means of a thumbscrew to lirmly hold the upper edge of thepicture, all constructed and operating substantially as described, andserving to incline the picture at any desired angle.

7. In an easel, the front extension-piece, B3, with side braces, A A',and at the back the hinged frame M, said frame and piece B3 beingprovided with casters, and the frame M having sockets for receiving andholding the end of back leg in place upon it.

- 8. The combination, with the frame of an easel, of a shelf` hinged atthe back, adapted to fold within the back leg of easel and by means,substantially as described, to be supe ported horizontally or heldagainst the easel.

9. In an easel, the uprights A A, and the horizontals B B', screwed upontheir back edges, in combination with the adjustable locker andadjustable bar, the weight, the folding base, and incline device,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANSON K. GROSS. Witnesses:

CHAs. HALL ADAMS, MARTIN McDoNoUGH.

